Falls prevention support
Maintaining strength and balance can help someone you care for reduce their risk of a fall. Find out the facts to help them stay fit, active and healthy during later life.
Last updated 9 September 2024
Maintaining strength and balance can help someone you care for reduce their risk of a fall. Find out the facts to help them stay fit, active and healthy during later life.
Last updated 9 September 2024
The older our loved ones get, the greater their risk of falling. So it makes sense to reduce that risk by being pro-active and creating a support system that will help them to stay healthy, active, and independent – and live stronger for longer.
Just because people get older, it doesn’t mean they feel older.
Older adults:
If you want to support an older adult – and you can see that they need help – talk to them and involve them in decisions and solutions. There are many practical ways you can help too.
Older adults usually value the advice of their doctor. Encourage them to check in with their doctor regularly to talk about their risk or fear of falling.
Help them prepare for their appointment and understand what to expect. It helps if they have the right information and questions for the appointment.
Talk to your doctor about preventing a fall
Most trips, slips, and falls happen around the home. You can check their risk of falling and help them discuss it with their doctor.
Check if you are at risk of falling
There are a few things you can do to help an older adult make their home safer to address potential slip, trip and fall hazards.
If the older adult lives alone, make sure you know:
Sometimes older adults don’t like to tell their friends and family when they’ve hurt themselves. They don’t want to be a burden, and they like to keep their health private. To make sure they’re safe, check in with them regularly.
A concussion is a brain injury. You don't need to knock your head or even lose consciousness to experience a concussion. If you suspect someone you care for has concussion, contact their doctor as soon as possible.
When a person stays in one position too long, their skin and flesh can get damaged. They could be sitting or lying down, or if they’re sitting up in bed, sliding down can injure their bottom and heels. Pressure injuries are also known as bedsores, pressure sores, pressure areas, or pressure ulcers. They can develop in a matter of hours.
Relieve pressure by reminding them to lean forward or side-to-side for a few minutes every half hour.
Talk to their doctor. They can get them the right help and set up a care plan to prevent pressure injuries.
Helping to prevent pressure injuries
Get them a personal medical alarm and make sure they know how to use it. It’s a device they can wear or carry with them and has a button they can press to call for help in an emergency.
It sends an alert to trained operators who can talk to them and contact you, other family, friends, or emergency services. Having a personal medical alarm can give peace of mind and security if they live alone or have a medical condition that may increase their risk of falling.
There are plenty of other ways you can help an older adult take better care of themselves.
Staying active helps older adults maintain strength and balance. Regular exercise is also proven to be beneficial for both physical and mental health, general wellbeing and quality of life.
Community Strength and Balance classes
Eating mostly healthy foods can help older adults stay healthy and prevent falls – by enabling them to maintain strength and balance and keep their bones strong.